Dark Mornings & Early Nights

Yes, it is that time of year already! The sun is moving its way across the sky and leaving us with less and less hours of sunlight every day. And because school is back in session and vacations are over, chances are you are spending less time outdoors. Why does this matter to your health? Because our skins exposure to sunlight causes our bodies to make Vitamin D. 

• Vitamin D does more than help our bones stay strong, having optimal levels:
• prevents and slows the progression of certain cancers,
• prevents autoimmune diseases,
• improves mood and energy,
• improves insulin sensitivity, and
• helps fight tuberculosis and other infections

The key to the above benefits is to have "optimal levels". This means more than just falling within the normal range on blood tests!  

The best way to get the benefits of Vitamin D is to get out in the sun for 15-20 minutes a day with as much skin exposed as possible and free of sunscreen. I would also recommend getting your blood levels tested, because I have often found that sunlight exposure does not always correlate with vitamin D levels in the blood. For people who have suboptimal levels, some supplementation may be needed as well. I have found an effective, easy to use, and inexpensive form of Vitamin D (see below for details) to work well in my patients.

Your levels can be tested easily by going to Grassroots Health and get tested (without a doctors note and in the privacy of your own home). You can bring your results in to me for interpretation. Or you make an appointment with me, and I will order the test for you.